The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 161

Chapter 161

Droplets splashed onto Lucky’s fur, making the dog shake and sneeze repeatedly.

Margaret beamed from ear to ear. “Oh dear, did I splash water on Lucky again?” she chuckled.

She set down the ladle and scooped Lucky up into her arms.

The maid handed her a handkerchief, and Margaret gently wiped the water droplets from Lucky’s fur.

F

Athena linked arms with Margaret and teased with a playful smile, “Grandma, you spoil Lucky so much, I’m starting to get jealous over here!”

“Are you really jealous of Lucky?” Margaret chuckled and tapped Athena’s forehead playfully.

Athena nestled against her grandmother’s shoulder, her face glowing with happiness as she teased, “Now that Lucky has become your favorite, Grandma, I guess I’ll just have to take a back seat.”

Athena’s playful remark sent Margaret into fits of laughter.

Just then, a few servants carrying several trunks came into view not far away.

Margaret watched for a moment, her expression gradually darkening.

Margaret pointed at the group and demanded sharply, “What are they up to?”

Seeing this, Gwen Denison swiftly intercepted the servants. “Her Ladyship summons you for questioning.”

The servants hastily set down the trunks, knelt before Margaret, and replied with deference, “Your Grace, we were acting on Lady Eloise’s orders to open the storeroom and are currently taking inventory.”

“Why are you taking everything out and checking it now, of all times?” Margaret demanded, clearly puzzled.

The servants kept their heads bowed, not daring to speak.

Margaret seemed to have an inkling of what was going on. She pointed at one of the housekeepers and commanded, “You, explain yourself.”

The old servant, trembling with terror, stammered out, “Madam said… since Miss Monson’s wedding is near… we need to sort out her wedding gift now… to avoid a last–minute rush.”

The servant hadn’t specified which girl she meant, so it didn’t immediately occur to Margaret that it might be Willow.

Margaret’s face darkened as she struggled to contain her anger. “This is absolutely outrageous! That storeroom holds the wedding gift prepared for Athena. It’s not even time for her to marry yet. What possible reason could there be to open it

now?”

No matter how much Eloise doted on Willow, in Margaret’s eyes, Athena was the only legitimate daughter of the duke’s

estate.

The wedding gift naturally belonged entirely to Athena.

The servants knelt trembling on the ground, stammering, “Forgive us, Your Grace. We were merely following orders.”

Then it struck Margaret that the bride–to–be was none other than Willow.

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Chapter 161

Margaret suddenly realized, ‘So Eloise is preparing Willow’s wedding gift!”

“How dare she!” Margaret swept the cup off the table with a violent motion, sending it crashing to the floor. She was so furious that her breath came in ragged gasps.

Gwen, fearing Margaret might collapse from rage, immediately shooed everyone out. “All of you, withdraw at once! Without Her Grace’s express permission, no one is to lay a finger on Lady Athena’s wedding gift.

The servants exchanged uneasy glances, silently confirming with each other before finally withdrawing, visibly relieved.

Margaret’s face turned deathly pale with rage. She slammed her hand against the back of her chair and spat, “Two–faced wretch! How dare she scheme against my granddaughter while I still draw breath! Who does she think she is?”

It was unclear whether Margaret was cursing Eloise or Willow.

Gwen quickly brought a drink and offered it to Margaret. “Your Grace, please calm yourself.”

Margaret shook her head in fury. “I can’t stomach a single sip right now.”

Athena’s heart skipped a beat. Just a few days ago, Eloise had been dropping hints, trying to get Margaret to prepare a wedding gift for Willow.

She’d shut this down once already and assumed Eloise had given up on the scheme.

Athena fumed inwardly, ‘To think she’d actually set her sights on me!‘

The wedding gift was prepared by the family specifically for Athena. While a portion came from Eloise, the bulk of it was set aside by Margaret for her.

Athena thought to herself, ‘I might not care about the wedding gift, but there’s no way I’m letting Grandma’s painstaking efforts fall into someone else’s hands just like that.‘

Athena’s expression darkened as well. She hurried over and gently patted Margaret’s back to comfort her. “Grandma, please calm down. It’s not worth ruining your health over this.”

For other matters, Margaret would have turned a blind eye.

But this matter involved Athena, so she couldn’t simply stand by and do nothing.

“Go and summon Eloise to me at once,” Margaret commanded Gwen sharply.

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